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3rd Vermont Infantry
Service Documents
Clement Brault, a native of Montreal, Quebec, using the alias "Louis Fernet," enlisted September 8, 1864, and mustered in the same day. He was assigned to Company C, 3rd Vermont Infantry, and mustered out July 11, 1865. The family believes Clement was born in Canada in 1847. After the war, he lived in Spencer, Massachusetts until 1889, then moved to Laconia, New Hampshire, and by 1900 was in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where he died in 1902. He is buried in Mary, Queen of the Rosary Cemetery, Spencer, Massachusetts.
According to pension records, Brault used the alias to "prevent his parents from finding out about his enlistment." In addition, there were several affidavits from relatives and friends. Two of these are from a former Captain Luke B. Fairbanks and former sergeant Carlton Felch, both also from Company C, which identify Clement as the Louis Fernet that they served with.
Among the papers in the pension and service records are three interesting documents:The first document is a Substitute Volunteer Enlistment form, dated 8 September 1864, wherein Louis Fernet agreed to enlist as a substitute for Charles B. Stone.
The second document, Declaration of Substitute, was also signed 8 September 1864, indicating Louis Fernet declared his age as 18 years, 8 months, that he was not previously discharged for disability or by sentence of a court martial, and he knew no impediment to his serving in the army. The document also contains the signatures of the three-member Board of Enrollment for the 2nd District of Vermont, certifying the had examined and enlisted him.
The third document, a post-war Department of the Interior Records & Pension Office Form 3-337 (Old No. 3-464aa.), documents Brault's use of the alias, and the name of the persion for whom he substituted.Source: written from materials provided by Bill Miller, Savannah, Georgia, whose wife Elizabeth is the great-granddaughter of Clement Brault, alias "Louis Fernet."
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